With the NFL Draft still a few weeks out from hitting full throttle at the Scouting Combine, the Kansas City Chiefs find themselves in an unfamiliar - yet intriguing - position: holding the ninth overall pick. It’s the highest selection of the Patrick Mahomes era, and it opens the door to some serious roster retooling for a team that’s been more accustomed to picking near the bottom of the first round.
In recent mock drafts from NFL Network analysts, both Eric Edholm and Lance Zierlein zeroed in on the same name for Kansas City - Rueben Bain Jr., the edge rusher out of Miami. And if that prediction holds, the Chiefs could be adding a major piece to their defensive front.
Pick 9 - Kansas City Chiefs
Rueben Bain Jr. - Edge, Miami (Junior)
This would be a pick that checks all the boxes - need, fit, and upside. Kansas City’s pass rush faded down the stretch this past season, and adding a player like Bain could help reignite that fire up front. He’s a relentless, high-motor edge defender who brings a physical presence and versatility that aligns well with what Brett Veach and Andy Reid typically value in their defensive personnel.
What makes Bain so compelling is how his game translates to the Chiefs’ system. Despite standing at 6-foot-3 with arm length that may not fall in line with the prototypical edge rusher Steve Spagnuolo tends to favor, Bain’s tape tells a different story. He plays bigger than his measurements, consistently winning leverage battles and using powerful, well-timed hands to shed blocks and disrupt plays in both the run and pass game.
He’s not just a bull-rusher either. Bain has the athleticism to bend around the edge and collapse the pocket from the outside.
That kind of flexibility - the ability to win in multiple ways - is what separates good edge rushers from great ones. And Bain showed he can do it against top-tier competition.
His postseason surge only strengthened his case. Over four playoff games, Bain racked up five sacks and three additional tackles for loss.
Nearly half of his season sack total came during that stretch - a clear sign that he elevates his game when the stakes are highest. That kind of clutch production is exactly what Kansas City could use as they look to reload for another Super Bowl run.
It’s also worth noting that Bain wasn’t doing it alone in Miami. He shared the defensive line with Akheem Mesidor, a sixth-year senior who led the Hurricanes with 12.5 sacks and four forced fumbles and is also projected to go in the first round. While Mesidor’s presence may have drawn some attention away from Bain, it also gave scouts a chance to see how Bain operated alongside another high-level disruptor.
That dynamic could play out again in Kansas City, where Chris Jones still commands double teams and alters game plans from the interior. Pairing Jones with a young, ascending edge rusher like Bain would give Spagnuolo a new toy to scheme with - and could open up easier opportunities for everyone on the defensive front.
The Chiefs have other needs, sure. But when a player fits your scheme, fills a glaring hole, and brings a playoff pedigree to the table, it’s hard to argue with the logic.
Rueben Bain Jr. might not have the ideal measurables, but his game speaks volumes. And if Kansas City calls his name at No. 9, they’ll be betting on production, power, and potential - the kind of bet that could pay off in a big way.